The son of New York State Senator and Reverend Rubén Díaz, Sr. today announced his support for same sex marriage. Rubén Díaz, Jr. son of Rubén Díaz, Sr., is New York City’s Bronx Borough President, and clearly cut from a different cloth than his rabidly anti-gay father. NOM, the National Organization For Marriage, is the second-highest contributor to the elder Díaz.

We are extremely grateful at the Bronx Borough President and recognize in his family how challenging this position must be. Díaz, Jr., deserves the thanks and support of the good people of New York City.

“After considerable deliberation and introspection, I support marriage equality,” the younger Díaz announced via a press release:

“My decision, which comes after years of thought and reflection on the issue, is informed by the experiences I have had with close friends, family and loved ones.

“For example, my chief-of-staff, Paul Del Duca, has for decades worked to help the people of this City. He has helped people find housing and jobs, he has dedicated his professional life to assisting those in need. Why, then, should he and his partner Damion—whose wedding I stood witness to—be denied the same rights of any other loving and committed couple? Moreover, why should my niece, Erica Diaz, be denied the ability to get married when her time comes?

“When marriage equality was made legal in 2011, many opponents predicted that it would have negative consequences. That has certainly not been the case. It is my contention that our city and our state are better off than they were before marriage equality became the law. Not only has our city seen an incredible financial impact from marriage equality, the quality of life for myself, my family and my friends has not suffered one bit.

“Right now, the Supreme Court is preparing to decide on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. I strongly believe that this law should be struck down. The marriages of thousands of New Yorkers and other LGBT individuals across the United States should be afforded the same federal rights, benefits, and recognition as my own marriage.

“Individuals who love one another, regardless of their sexual orientation, should not be denied the benefits of marriage. It is time for the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

And while the support from Díaz, Jr. is highly appreciated, even at this moment we cannot help but point to these comments his father made — away from what is supposed to be his ful-time paid job as a sitting New York state senator — in Washington, D.C., where he traveled with anti-gay marriage supporters he and the National Organization For Marriage bussed in from his district:

New York State Senator and Reverend Rubén Díaz is the one speaking in Spanish. His translator, at a 2011 NOM anti-gay marriage rally, said that gays are “worthy of death.” NOM never denounced these comments, although Maggie Gallagher on these pages said she did not agree.

Hat tip: Blabbeando, an excellent blogger you should all pay attention to:

Dear @rubendiazjr: Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for expressing your support for marriage equality.